Escalating trade war rattles Wall Street

Both sides left a window for negotiators to reach a deal before their economies are affected by higher tariffs, but the threat of a persistent trade war gave Wall Street its worst day in four months. The S&P 500 index fell more than 2.4 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 3.4 percent. Global investors appeared calmer today: Asian markets dropped modestly, and European markets opened slightly higher.

Closer look: An escalation of Mr. Trump’s trade war is poised to hit every conceivable consumer product. The items that could face tariffs up to 25 percent include toys, shoes, coffee makers, smartphones, fireworks, guns and more.

The background: Senior officials from both countries have met 11 times since Mr. Trump took office. But significant differences remain over how tariffs should be rolled back and whether the negotiated provisions must be enshrined in Chinese law.

White House reviews Iran plan, in echoes of Iraq war

Defense officials have updated a military strategy that envisions sending as many as 120,000 U.S. troops to the Middle East if Iran were to attack or accelerate work on nuclear weapons.

The size of the force envisaged shocked some of those who were briefed on the plans; it would approach the number of American troops who invaded Iraq in 2003, and would reverse years of curtailing U.S. military involvement in the Middle East.

The revisions — ordered by hard-liners led by John Bolton, the national security adviser — reflect both Mr. Bolton’s influence and sharp divisions within the administration over how to respond to Tehran.

Looking ahead: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on his first diplomatic trip to Russia this week, is likely to discuss arms control, renewed tensions with Iran and the crisis in Venezuela.

Israeli firm used WhatsApp flaw for spying

Security researchers said an Israeli firm exploited a security hole in WhatsApp to gain access to iPhones and Android phones. The firm, NSO Group, has previously been accused of supplying technology for spying on activists and journalists.

Digital attackers could use the messaging app’s vulnerability to insert malicious code and extract data by placing a call. WhatsApp engineers who examined the vulnerability concluded that the digital footprint was similar to that of NSO Group, the Israeli firm.

The response: WhatsApp said it had patched the vulnerability and encouraged users to update as soon as possible.

Watch: Ms. Day became a star as a dynamic leading lady during the golden age of the Hollywood musical. These five performances show the range of her work.

If you have 13 minutes, this is worth it

A land of beauty and austerity

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CreditLaetitia Vancon for The New York Times

A decade-long austerity program has rippled through every aspect of life in Britain, resulting in the closing of tiny community centers and the elimination of bus routes.

Such small changes can profoundly upend the lives of retirees — particularly those in Cumbria, above, one of the poorest rural areas in England.

Here’s what else is happening

Apple lawsuit: The Supreme Court allowed a major class action against the tech giant to proceed on Monday, saying consumers should be permitted to try to prove that the company used monopoly power to raise the prices of iPhone apps.

College admissions scandal: The actress Felicity Huffman pleaded guilty on Monday to a single count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, acknowledging that she paid $15,000 to arrange for cheating on her daughter’s SAT. Prosecutors have said that they will recommend four months in prison.

Donald Trump Jr. subpoena: Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee are looking to question the president’s eldest son to tie up their investigation of Russian election interference. He has twice agreed to be interviewed, only to back out, the committee’s chairman said.

Aviation accident: Two small planes carrying cruise passengers collided in Alaska, killing at least four people.

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CreditJoe Sohm/Visions of America/UIG, via Getty Images

Snapshot: Above, U.C.L.A. graduation around 1990. Born between 1965 and 1980, members of Generation X set the precedent for today’s social justice warriors and capitalist super-soldiers, a Styles reporter writes in this essay. It’s part of a package on the generation that supposedly didn’t know what they were, or what they wanted.

Late-night comedy: The hosts had plenty to say about the trade war. “I like big tariffs and I cannot lie, you other leaders can’t deny, when Xi walks in with the itty-bitty trade and the soybeans in your face you get sprung,” Stephen Colbert rapped to the tune of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.”

What we’re reading: This article in The Washingtonian. “This look at how high-end Washington restaurants treat their V.I.P. customers really drove home a central truth of fine dining,” says Michael Gold, a Metro reporter: “The people you might expect to say ‘don’t you know who I am?’ to get a table really don’t need to.”

Go: There are more than 100 exhibitions and presentations in this year’s Venice Biennale. Which should you see?

Smarter Living: Maintaining relationships is like earning compound interest: We make investments through our words and actions, and over time our relationships blossom. So today, check in with an old friend, text someone a meme or take a minute to say an overdue thank you. It could brighten both of your days.

In the U.S., hundreds of millions of straws are used daily. Seattle has banned them. In Los Angeles, if you want a straw, you have to ask for it. Many bars are switching to paper versions.

But humans and straws go way back. The Sumerian civilization (about 4,000 B.C.) in southern Mesopotamia used hollow reeds or golden tubes to sip beer, bypassing gunk left from fermentation.

In 19th-century America, an inventor, Marvin Stone, wrapped paper strips around a pencil, glued and waxed them, and patented his creation in 1888.

Forty years later, another inventor, Joseph Friedman, put a screw in a straw. Wrapping floss around the screw’s thread created small ridges that made the straw bendable, which proved helpful for hospital patients drinking from cups.

Only since the polymer boom of the 1960s have straws been made predominantly of plastic.

That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.

— Inyoung

Thank youTo Mark Josephson, Eleanor Stanford and Kenneth R. Rosen for the break from the news. James K. Williamson wrote today’s Back Story. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S. • We’re listening to “The Daily.” Today’s episode is about Representative Rashida Tlaib’s views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. • Here’s today’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Format for podcasts (5 letters). You can find all our puzzles here. • The Times Crossword has more than 500,000 subscribers.